Preventing Mold Growth in Garage

I have the habit of storing old cardboard boxes in my garage, so I wouldn’t have to go to the market and buy new ones if I ever need them. But, they didn’t turn out to be of any use when I needed them – they had got patches of mold. So, I ended up throwing them.

While trying to figure out what caused the mold growth, I noticed moisture on a wall and I instantly knew the root cause of the problem.

Does this scenario sound familiar to you?

Mold growth in garages is one of the most common problems homeowners face.

Mold and mildew grow and thrive in dark, humid, and poorly ventilated spaces and garages often provide the ideal environment for mold growth. And since mold and mildew spread very quickly, they often create huge trouble leaving a lot of homeowners wondering if it is possible to prevent mold growth in the first place.

How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Garage

Here are some steps that you can take to prevent mold from growing in your garage:

Regularly check your garage for any leaks. If there is any water seeping into your garage through the ceiling or the door (from an outside gutter), deal with it immediately as water can contaminate your garage by kicking off mold and bacterial growth.

Install an insulated garage door with good weather-stripping at the bottom. This will help you keep the inside temperature at least 10 to 20 degrees warmer during winters as well as prevent water from entering your garage; wind-driven rain may be the only exception.

Maintain low humidity levels. While ensuring proper ventilation is the ideal way to prevent moisture from building up in your garage, you may need to use dehumidifiers or fans once it has started to build-up.

Sunlight also helps to prevent mold growth by eliminating moisture. If your garage doesn’t have any windows, you may consider leaving its door open for a few hours every day to let the sunlight enter and moisture to escape your garage.

Use a squeegee to immediately remove water that may enter your garage when it rains or snows. It is highly important to not let water stand in your garage, no matter how little it is, if you want to prevent mold growth. Extend your downspout if it is dumping the roof water too close to the garage door.

Try not to keep anything on the floor, so they don’t get damaged in case of accidental flooding. You may consider installing shelves or racks to store things safely.

These steps will help keep the air in your garage fresh and prevent moisture build-up, which then will enable you to store things for a long time. However, if mold has already started growing and spreading in your home, dial 208-714-0504 to call the Service Team of Professionals for mold removal. We guarantee to make your home mold-free once again.